Giovanni b



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. B. SIGGARDI.

SNOW CLEANING APPARATUS.

Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

' AN DIIW B GRANANJNOTWUIHEWASNINGIDHJC 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. B. 5100mm. SNOW CLEANING APPARATUS.

No. 556,648. Patented Mar. 1'7, 1896.

:2 2I;-sliklibliiiii e:

UNITED STATES PATENT rricn.

HOVANNI SICCARDI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SNOW-CLEANING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,648, dated March 17, 1896.

Application filed January 4,1896. Serial No. 574,867. (No model.)

To ocZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GIOVANNI B. Srccanm, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snow-Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide means for removing snow from the tracks of railways and for disposing; of the same by removing it entirely from the street or thorough fare traversed by the railway.

My invention is an improvement upon that shown in my United States patent of July 2, 1895, No. 542,209, in that the machine of said patent is herein combined with means where by the snow removed and elevated from the tracks by said machine is emptied into receptacles in rear of said machine for final disposition, each receptacle when filled being removed, leaving an empty receptacle in its place.

My invention is shown as partic ularly adapted to cable and electric roads of the underground type, and this is also applicable to roads of overhead tracks or to steam roads.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional view of the machine in place upon the track, with the series of receptacles in proper position and with the means for corn trolling said receptacles. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing how the receptacles fit one within the other. Fig. 3 is'a cross-sectional view of the conduit and with the wedging-piecc and draw-bar held thereby. Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan View of the machine of Fig. 1 with parts broken away and in section. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of modified means for controlling the position of the receptacles on the train. Fig. Sis a detail of the stop for preventing contact of the scoop with the ground.

The machine for removing and elevating the snow is substantially like that shown in my patent, and comprises an endless conveyer having scoops or buckets thereon, as shown at 1, adapted to lift the snow from the tracks, carry it upwardly and along the rear extension to a point over the series of receptacles 3, piled one within another on a car 4, attached by a coupling 5 to the frame of the machine. The carrier is operated from sprocketwheel c, at each side of the machine, 5 5 loose on a shaft '7, which is driven continuously through pinions S thereon engaging with gears S) on the rear carrier-wheels 10, which are supported on the axle 11, j ournaled in the frame 12. The carrier chain or band passes over guide-wheels l3 and rollers 14, the latter being at the lower part of the frame, and a guide-flange 15 is provided for properly directing the band. The front carrier-wheels 16 are smaller than the rear, are journaled on the axle 17, and are adapted to run on the tracks of the railway, and in order that they may do this and that the machine may be properly directed and drawn along snow plows or scoops 18 are provided for the front wheels, which clean the snow from the tracks directly in front of the wheels and clean away a sufficient space for the free running of the rear wheels, which may or may not run upon the tracks. A platform 19 at the front of the 7 5 frame serves to support the motorman, and the connection to the cable or electrical conductor is shown at 20, and this maybe of any ordinary form.

Knives or cutters 21 suspended from the front axle serve to break up any hard snow or; ice, so that the scoop may readily take up the same. The sprocket-wheels 6 are connected to the continuously-operating shaft '7 by clutches 22 controlled by the motorman through the lever 23 extending to the. front platform. The means for disposing of the snow which is removed and elevated by the machine consists of a train of platform-cars 4 25, only two of which are shown in the 0 drawings for convenience of illustration. The front car of the train has a series of receptacles fitting one within the other, said receptacles, as shown in Fig. 2, consisting of a bottom and front and two sides, the rearside 5 being left open.

Then the innermost receptacle has been filled a draw-post 26 is secured at the rear of a train by means of its wedge-shaped lower end 27 (see Fig. 3) fitting within the slot and against wedge-plates 28 of angular form having horizontal flanges 29 to rest on the surface of the slot-iron and having inclined flanges 3O projecting downwardly and laterally into the conduit. The wedge-shaped end 27 of the draw-post is of proper size to pass freely through the slot, and in setting up the draw-post the wedge-plates 28 are placed in position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, opposite each other in the slot, and then the draw-post is inserted into the slot in rear or in front of the wed ge-plates and is then moved longitudinally between them to the position shown in Fig. 3, the wedge-plates thus gripping the draw-post against upward movement and being themselves maintained against upward movement by their inclined flanges. v A key 30 "extends laterally across the slot, its ends resting on the wedge plates and passing through a notch '32 of the draw-post in the front edge thereof. From the upper end of the draw-post ropes 33 extend forward along each side of the cars of the train and the front ends of these ropes are hooked into staples 011 the innermost receptacles, which has now been filled. The ropes are guided about sheaves 35 at the side edges of the cars, thus leaving space between them for the reception of the loaded receptacles.

It will be understood that the setting up of the draw-post and its attachment to the loaded receptacles occupies a very short space of time, and during this interval the machine is at rest. The cords having been attached the machine is advanced and the loaded receptacle is by this advance of the machine drawn to the rear until it reaches and rests upon the rear platform of the train. The draw-post is then taken down and the farther advance of the machine and train results in the filling 0f the second receptacle which has been left free to receive the snow by the withdrawal from within it of the first receptacle. WVhen this second receptacle has received its load the draw-post is set up, the ropes attached, and it is drawn to the rear to rest upon the next to the last car of the train. This operation is repeated until all the cars of the train have been filled.

The open rear end of the receptacle permits the free withdrawal of one receptacle from the other. The front ends of the receptacles are rounded at the corners 37, so that they telescope easily one within another.

It will be seen from this that my machine is adapted not only to remove the snow from the tracks, but to provide means for disposing of the snow, and it is thus a material advance over the ordinary snow-cleaner which simply brushes the snow from the tracks, leaving it at one side thereof to block the street and to put upon the city or community the necessity for its removal.

My invention will be found of special advantage in cities having crowded thoroughfares, where delay to traffic results in heavy losses. The receptacles are provided with braces 38 near their rear open end.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show means for attaching the draw-rope to railways employing the ordinary T-rail, whereby I am enabled to apply the invention to overhead systems and to steam-railways, and this attachment consists simply of two blocks 39 having notches in their lower edges adapted to fit the T-rail, the inner ends of the block being attached by cords 40 with draw-rope 41, so that the pull of this rope will draw upon the inner ends of the blocks and jam the same firmly upon the T-rail.

In adapting the machine to steam-railways the elevator may be driven from a rotary-engine carrier on the shaft 7 and supplied with steam through a pipe connected with the 10- comotive, it being understood that the invenvention would be arranged in front of the locomotive. By employing the clutch 22 the machine may be thrown out of operation and be placed in condition for transportation from one end of the line to the other. Suitable fenders may be arranged between the front and rear wheels of the machine to throw aside any snow or ice lying in the path of the rear wheel.

It will be seen that a downwardly-project ing stop X (shown in Fig. 1) adjacent to the lower scoop of the series will serve to protect the same against injury in case the machine runs over a rough and uneven track, which would allow the front or the rear wheels to fall. This projection would act as a stop, and it serves also to carry the guard or fender for clearing the space in front of the rear wheel.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination, means for removing and elevatingthe snow, a series of receptacles piled one within another adapted to receive the snow from the elevating means a carrier for the receptacles and means for drawing the filled receptacles rearwardly to rest upon the rear portion of the carrier, substantially as described. v

2. In combination, means for removing and elevating the snow, the train arranged in rear thereof, the series of receptacles arranged one within the other and adapted to receive the snow from the elevating means, a draw post or block secured in rear of the train and a rope extending therefrom to the receptacles to engage the loaded receptacles, substantially as described.

3. In combination, means for removing and elevating the snow, a trainin rear thereof, a series of receptacles arranged one within the other, a draw-post having a wedge-shaped end fitted to the slot, the wedge-plates, the cross-key and the rope connecting the drawpost with the receptacles substantially as described.

ZOO

IIO

4. In combination, means for removing and wheels and the stop or guard projection to elevating the snow, 2t train in rear thereof, a prevent contact of the scoop with the ground. 10 series of receptacles having rounded front In testimony whereof I aflix my signature ends, open rear ends, cross-braces and means in presence of two witnesses. for drawing the receptacles when filled rear- GIOVANNI B. SIOOARDI. wnrdly of the trein,substantial1y as described. Vitnesses 5. In combination, the frame, the endless HENR T E. COOPER, elevator having the scoops, the front and rear \VALTER- DONALDSON. 

